Migrate ESXi5.5 to view in VCenter.

[dediosj]

Hi guys

I build my lab, installing ESXi 5.5 in a physical server, I  create VM´s ,switches , etc. All this was managed via  VSphere client . The ESxi have the IP  10.10.10.6. And I reach it via this client , write the IP,. user:root, and password: xxxxxxx

Now , in one of the VM that I created under this ESXi, a WIndows 2008 x64, and installed  all the Vsphere suite in order to manage ALL ESXi and included more via Vcenter. I installed the SSO, Web client, Inventory and Vcenter. The IP of this VM server under the ESxi is 10.10.10.150.

I open Vcenter write this IP, username: administartor@vshpere.local, pass:xxxxxxx

When I launch either Web client or the Vcenter all appears empty, no machines, no storages, , nothing!!!!! Why did  I not find my current ESXi??  Its look like I need to start from the scratch. The only what  I see is the VM server  where all the suite  was installed. as root  ( see attach) .Can I import the ESXi or something else? or need I to start  from the scratch .?

what I did to launch it is to open from my laptop the Vsphere client , write the IP of the ESXi, and instead of write root as username I write the default username :administrator@vshepere.local and the password that I set during the Vcenter installation.

if I write in the same client root as username and the password I set for this I can see the ESxi.with all the VM´s.,like allways. But I want to move to VCenter to start creating other ESxi and continue the labs with HA..., etc..

maybe is a trivial question , but I am stacked.. :smileyshocked:

Thanks a lot for any help

Jesus

[Vijaynb]

Hi,

What you are seeing now (attached screenshot) is a vCenter server not a Virtual Machine.

Looks like you have not added ESXi hosts to the vCenter server.

Regards,

VijayNB

[rcporto]

You must create a Datacenter and add the ESXi host where you created the virtual machine of vCenter in this datacenter... after this you will be able to see the host, VMs, storage, etc.

[a_p_]

Take a look at the "Getting Started" tab. This will guide you through the steps of adding the ESXi host to the vCenter Server environment. If you want to setup a cluster, create a Datacenter, then create a Cluster and finally add the host to the cluster to import the VMs its inventory to vCenter..

André

[dediosj]

but the datastore are already created in mu ESXI see attach, I am getting crazy today...

thanks to all mates!!

[a_p_]

That's ok,. vCenter is a tool to manage the hosts and to provide advanced features. So simply add the host to the vCenter environment.

André

[rcporto · Accepted solution]

You must create a Datacenter, not a datastore 🙂

[dediosj]

great THANKS to all of you , I confused datacenter with datastore... in fact all answers was CORRECT !!!!

if one of you visit Madrid, I own a beer !!

cheers

Jesus

[dediosj]

Hi Experts!!

So last question refer to design , is it a good idea to have the Vcenter installed in a VM inside the ESxi? or I need to install in an not virualize server? If the ESxi downs I will have no control, right?

what is the best practice?

Thansk

J

[a_p_]

The recommendation is to install vCenter Server as a VM. If the host goes down and you are not running it in a cluster with shared storage (i.e. use HA) then vCenter will aslo be down, and you will need to power on the host the start vCenter again. Anyway, if you install vCenter on a physical system and it goes down, you are in trouble too, so that doesn't make a big difference.

André

[VRBitman]

In a real production environment, as André was suggesting, you would run it in a cluster of ESXi hosts. Within the cluster, your vCenter would be proactively protected with DRS and Storage DRS, and reactively protected with HA (High Availability).

You would also have reliable and frequent backups of vCenter and its database.

VMware also used to offer a feature designed exclusively for protecting vCenter, called vCenter Heartbeat, but that is now discontinued.